Advantages of two-stage heating systems

Purchasing a new heating and cooling system could be in your future. Selecting the right furnace for your home requires understanding the various products available. A two-stage heating system is preferred by many HVAC contractors and could be the right fit in your renovation.

Choosing a new furnace and heating components can be difficult. The business has its own terminology, and there are scores of different equipment manufacturers all claiming that their brand is the best. Buying a new heating system is also expensive, making the process more stressful. Not everyone has an unlimited budget or the ability to simply select the top-of-the-line model. Therefore, understanding which features make one furnace stand out from another can help consumers make the best possible decision.

One factor that will come up as you browse for furnaces is whether to choose a single-stage furnace or a two- or dual-staged furnace. There are many advantages to the latter, which makes them a favorite of HVAC contractors.

Two-stage furnaces are designed to change the way British Thermal Units (BTUs) of heat are delivered to the home. In a single-stage system, when the thermostat registers a drop in home temperature that requires the heat to turn on, the furnace will produce one level of heat output until the desired temperature is reached. This furnace is designed to heat your home on the coldest days for your climate. In a two-stage system, the furnace provides gradual heat production. In the first stage, which usually operates at around 70 percent of the system's heating capacity, the system will try to warm the space. On mild winter days or chilly autumn days, the first stage may be all that's needed. If the home requires additional heating, the furnace will kick into the second stage, increasing the heating power. Some two-stage furnaces not only offer two BTU offerings, but two blower speeds as well.

One of the advantages to these furnaces are that the two-stage system eliminates drastic temperature swings, which are common among single-stage furnaces. This can mean the home is more comfortable over a longer period of time.

Another benefit is that because the system starts in the lower stage and may operate at that stage more so than in the second stage, the furnace is generally quieter than traditional furnaces. This greatly reduces the initial noise of turning on the furnace at full power.

Two-stage furnaces will burn fuel more efficiently and may actually burn less fuel if they spend the majority of the time in the first stage of operation. If they have a variable speed blower, they may even save you money in electricity costs.

Two-stage furnaces may cost more money initially because they tend to be more expensive than traditional furnaces. But over time two-stage systems might pay for themselves in efficiency, noise reduction and comfort in a home.